Ugochukwu Ugoji-Eke, Umuahia
Following the directive of Abia State Governor, Dr Onesie Ikpeazu, the government has immediately sealed EASY ON PETROL STATION at Ngwa Road, Aba.
The governor’s directive is believed to be as a result of constant harrassment of the contractor and the workers of the firm handling the reconstruction of the Ngwa Road which has led to the constant stoppage of work on the said road.
The directive was contained in a release signed by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Barr. Onyebuchi Ememanka which said the directive came at the backdrop of the incessant obstruction of construction work presently ongoing at Ngwa Road.
The release said that in addition to the harassment and physical assault of construction workers and staff of the State Ministry of Environment who are engaged on the project by owners and workers of the said petrol station.
According to the release, “This order shall remain operative until the Ngwa Road project is completed and commissioned.
The ongoing reconstruction work on Ngwa Road and other adjoining roads under the NEWMAP projects and indeed, all projects in Abia State, done with tax payers money are of fundamental importance to the government of Abia State and under no circumstances whatsoever will government stand and watch unscrupulous persons get in the way of such projects”.
The release directs the Executive Chairman of Aba South LGA, the Area Commander of the Nigeria Police, Aba and the relevant Divisional Police Officers, the Commander of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps in Aba and the General Manager of the Traffic and Indiscipline Management Agency of Abia State (TIMAAS) to weigh into full implementation of the Governor’s directive immediately.
It further warns the operators of that petrol station against any further disturbances on those lawfully engaged in the reconstruction, adding that such will attract immediate revocation of the Certificate of Occupancy (C of O) for that property without any further reference to the persons involved.
It conveys the Governor’s wish to reiterate his earlier warning that the full weight of the State Government will be unleashed on any person or group of persons, by whatever name called who plans to disrupt the work at Ngwa Road or any other project site in the State, under any guise whatsoever.
The release continued, “Government shall not tolerate any acts of sabotage against the efforts put in place by the State Government at rebuilding our infrastructure”.
